Rekha Government Takes a Major Step Towards Economic Rehabilitation of the 1984 Riot Victims

Delhi Cabinet Approves Policy for Compassionate Employment

Jobs to Be Extended to Next Generation of 1984 Sikh Riot Victims: CM Rekha Gupta

New Delhi, Nov 2025 : In a significant decision taken during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Smt. Rekha Gupta, the Delhi Government has approved a policy to provide compassionate employment to the dependants of victims who lost their lives in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

This important step by the Delhi Government not only reflects its sensitivity and commitment to justice but also stands as a symbol of relief and respect for those families who have been awaiting justice and economic rehabilitation for over four decades.

Announcing details of the Cabinet decision taken on Wednesday, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that the new policy marks a concrete step towards expediting long-pending cases of employment assistance that remained unresolved since the Cabinet decision of 2007. For the past 18 years, this process could not be completed due to various administrative reasons. To end this prolonged delay, the government has now introduced a clear, structured, and time-bound policy to ensure that eligible families receive employment assistance promptly, leaving no rightful claimant deprived.

According to the Chief Minister, a key feature of the new policy is that dependants of victims who are now above 50 years of age and unable to take up employment will have the option to nominate a member of the next generation such as a son, daughter, daughter-in-law, or son-in-law for the job. This provision ensures that the benefit of employment genuinely reaches the family and that the intended purpose of assistance is effectively fulfilled. The clause has been introduced in recognition of the fact that many eligible dependants have now grown elderly.

The Chief Minister further stated that necessary relaxations in age and educational qualifications have also been incorporated into the policy. All provisions will comply with the directions of the Hon’ble Delhi High Court and the prescribed legal framework. Additionally, a transparent and well-defined mechanism has been established for verification, grievance redressal, and departmental allocation to ensure that the process of appointments is fair, accountable, and efficient.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta emphasised that this decision reflects the Delhi Government’s deep empathy for the victim families and its unwavering commitment to their dignity, justice, and economic rehabilitation. “Our government is determined to ensure that no eligible family faces further delays. By extending employment opportunities to the next generation, we aim not only to provide financial support but also to restore the self-respect of these families,” she said.